Bonds hits 756th home run to set MLB record

MarketWatch ^ | Aug 8, 2007 | staff

[Nonstatist]

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Barry Bonds became the most prolific home-run hitter in Major League Baseball history Tuesday night, slugging his 756th in front of more than 43,052 hometown fans to pass Henry Aaron. Bonds' record-setting homer came in the fourth inning to give the Giants a 5-4 lead over the Washington Nationals. Bonds hit a 3-2 pitch from Washington's Mike Bacsik deep to center field. The game was delayed by a standing ovation for Bonds, whose late father Bobby was a Giants player, coach and front-office employee.... Bonds also holds the season record for home runs with 73 in 2001.

The 43-year-old Bonds, who has spent 21 years in the majors, had tied Aaron at 755 on Saturday in the Giants' 3-2 loss in San Diego. Aaron's record had stood since 1976, when he retired after 22 years in the majors.

[EternalVigilance]

There once was a hitter named Bonds
With the records the cheater absconds
Bringing baseball to shame
With steroids in his veins
All the joy in the game, Babe “It’s gone!”

[CheyennePress]

>>>That’s some pretty weak reasoning. Lots of people do it, therefore it’s ok? Barry Bonds sucks a juiced one.<<<

I don’t hear any complaints coming as the NFL records fall. I just find it incredibly hypocritical to see the same sports commentators blasting Bonds and singing the praises for some NFL defensive end or running back who is obviously using steroids.

I guess the ignorance of the issue hacks me the most. Hearing some boob who goes on and on about how Mark McGwire used Andro during his streak annoys me to no end—especially considering Andro is good for little more than making your boobs grow if you’re a man. Idiots like that who can’t even do their homework don’t need to be setting the tone for serious discussion.

[over3Owithabrain]

In some ways Cobb was the anti-Bonds (as a player I mean, he was truly an ass as a person), see story below (from Wiki but I have read this elsewhere and it is well referenced and supported with real stats):

As Ruth's popularity grew, Cobb became increasingly hostile toward him. Cobb saw Ruth not only as a threat to his style of play, but also to his style of life. While Cobb preached ascetic self-denial, Ruth gorged on hot dogs, beer, and women.[52][53][54] Perhaps what angered him the most about Ruth was that despite Ruth's total disregard for his physical condition and traditional baseball, he was still an overwhelming success and brought fans to the ballparks in record numbers to see him set his own records.

After enduring several years of seeing his fame and notoriety usurped by Ruth, Cobb decided that he was going to show that swinging for the fences was no challenge for a top hitter. On May 5, 1925, Cobb began a two-game hitting spree better than any even Ruth had unleashed. He was sitting in the dugout talking to a reporter and told him that, for the first time in his career, he was going to swing for the fences. That day, Cobb went 6 for 6, with two singles, a double, and three home runs.[55] His 16 total bases set a new AL record. The next day he had three more hits, two of which were home runs. His single his first time up gave him 9 consecutive hits over three games. His five homers in two games tied the record set by Cap Anson of the old Chicago NL team in 1884.[55] Cobb wanted to show that he could hit home runs when he wanted, but simply chose not to do so. At the end of the series, 38-year-old Cobb had gone 12 for 19 with 29 total bases, and then went happily back to bunting and hitting-and-running.

[AGreatPer]

Interisting, there was no member of the Giants on the field after the home run. Hmmmm.

[Junior_G]

Well, aside from the fact that his chemical enhancement was obvious to anybody with eyes and a brain, it was all chronicled in a book devoted to the matter. Is this the first time you’ve heard about these allegations, because your defense of Bonds is blind.

[doc1019]

Ah, a Bonds aficionado … I don’t have to prove anything … Barry will spend his life proving the negative.

[sofaman]

I didn’t think that there was any doubt that he WOULD do it...it leaves a very bad taste in the mouth, though.

[upchuck]

Hank Aaron.........Barry Bonds

Simply no comparison.

[SoldierDad]

What game are you watching? Not the one that’s on my set. I saw plenty of Giant’s giving Barry hugs and congrats. Get your eyes checked.

[I slam Islam]

If I were his family members, I would be scared. Roid-rage can be a serious thing. Look at what happened with that wrastler.

[nutmeg]

Who ever caught the ball sure will be a Rich person

No one actually caught it, but there sure was a mad (and violent) scramble for the thing. No doubt some injuries in that dog pile.

I saw that part of the game (on MLB Extra Innings). Someone did catch Barry's 756th HR ball. Young guy in a gray baseball jersey. He was "escorted" out -- actually almost carried out -- by about 10 policemen. The kid was triumphant, as if he just hit the lottery. Which he did, of course...

[struggle]

*

[SoldierDad]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You talk the talk, but, like all the other “I Hate Barry Bonds Because He’s Barry Bonds” people, you don’t have a single shred of evidence to back up your accusations. Not one time in Bond’s career did he test positive for using any performance enhancing substances. If there were a positive test it would have been all over the media. But, no, not a single time. You just use innuendo as your evidence. I’m glad your not a prosecutor.

[Bogtrotter52]

“Bonds may be very big and muscular for the majority of his body...but, due to steroids, I understand certain parts become very small.”

Hmmmmmmm....lets see....a place in the record books AND whithered testicles.....or my hum drum average life? I’ll stick with what I got. And if he used steroids long enough I am likely to outlive him as well.

[upsdriver]

“Who cares about Barry Bonds. Hank Aaron is the Real Home Run King.”

Not anymore.

[AGreatPer]

No, No, you got me wrong. OK, it was the way I printed it.

From ESPN, "there was no member of the Giants management on the field to congralute him."

Sorry, I should have been more clear on that. Yes, there were plenty of players there. But no MGT.

[over3Owithabrain]

What evidence does anyone have except simple accusations and innuendo? None.

Uhh, try a little research my FRiend. The "accusations" are so simple he is looking at possible federal indictments. There are guys in JAIL for not admitting what they know about Bonds cheating. There are well reserched fair-minded books that show a lot more than "innuendo". His record may actually have that asterisk placed next to it in Cooperstown. Give it time sir and allow the grand jury and history to answer your loaded questions. In the meantime I and many others who apparently know more about the facts than you have made our non-jury judgment. And shame on you for casting aspersions on other ballplayers who never invited the trouble and dishonor Bonds has earned.

[jamese777]

“Who ever caught the ball sure will be a Rich person
No one actually caught it, but there sure was a mad (and violent) scramble for the thing. No doubt some injuries in that dog pile.

I saw that part of the game (on MLB Extra Innings). Someone did catch Barry’s 756th HR ball. Young guy in a gray baseball jersey. He was “escorted” out — actually almost carried out — by about 10 policemen. The kid was triumphant, as if he just hit the lottery. Which he did, of course...”

The story is that he’s from New York City, a Mets fan. He and a buddy are on their way to Australia and on a whim decided to go the game tonight and bought scalped tickets.

[SoldierDad]

Your right. You don’t have to prove a thing. Just cast aspersions against someone you hate. It’ll be up to others to try and prove Bonds cheated. And, when they can’t, you’ll say he did anyway.

[CheyennePress]

>>>Oh yes...another thing I forgot to mention...

Bonds may be very big and muscular for the majority of his body...but, due to steroids, I understand certain parts become very small.<<<

See, this again. First all of the people who believed Mark McGwire about Andro and droned on and on about it... Then this.

When you use steroids, your body senses you have a lot of testosterone or androgens in your blood, so your brain stops sending signals to your testicles to produce testosterone. So they shrink. You go off of steroids, your brain senses your body returning to normal, and it signals more production—and your testicles return to normal size. Many of these drugs have been used safely by doctors for years.

I guess what annoys me about all of it is the rampant disinformation being used to mock another’s accomplishments. I’ve seen enough of that in the media, as is.